POLI 243 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Kenneth Waltz, World War I, Hans Morgenthau

• School: McGill University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLI 243
• Professor: Mark Brawley

Document Summary

Before, poli sci & econ clumped together. Poli sci study of power, econ study of wealth. Wwi effects: big issue in poli sci became why do wars occur? . Woodrow wilson + league of nations used background of intl law idealism/utopianism is born! Historians, not just lawyers, start getting into ir theorizing. Say states have been using war to resolve disputes for centuries. Hans morgenthau also imp: questions of human nature realism is born! Classical realism: assumptions: humans have a will to survive selfish, will to survive = will to dominate, creates competition to dominate search for power. Realism vs. idealism realist assumption are opposite of idealits". Humans are good vs. humans are bad idealists don"t give up: want to improve league of ntns with un. Structural realism: states are the most imp actors, states are unitary & rational, intl system is anarchic, states seek to maximize power. Main version of realism seen after 50s.